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Charlie Parker #12
The Wolf in Winter
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2014)Prosperous, and the secret that it hides beneath its ruins . . .
The community of Prosperous, Maine has always thrived when others have suffered. Its inhabitants are wealthy, its children's future secure. It shuns outsiders. It guards its own. And at the heart of Prosperous lie the ruins of an ancient church, transported stone by stone from England centuries earlier by the founders of the town . . .
But the death of a homeless man and the disappearance of his daughter draw the haunted, lethal private investigator Charlie Parker to Prosperous. Parker is a dangerous man, driven by compassion, by rage, and by the desire for vengeance. In him the town and its protectors sense a threat graver than any they have faced in their long history, and in the comfortable, sheltered inhabitants of a small Maine town, Parker will encounter his most vicious opponents yet.
The community of Prosperous, Maine has always thrived when others have suffered. Its inhabitants are wealthy, its children's future secure. It shuns outsiders. It guards its own. And at the heart of Prosperous lie the ruins of an ancient church, transported stone by stone from England centuries earlier by the founders of the town . . .
But the death of a homeless man and the disappearance of his daughter draw the haunted, lethal private investigator Charlie Parker to Prosperous. Parker is a dangerous man, driven by compassion, by rage, and by the desire for vengeance. In him the town and its protectors sense a threat graver than any they have faced in their long history, and in the comfortable, sheltered inhabitants of a small Maine town, Parker will encounter his most vicious opponents yet.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2014
670 people are currently reading
6569 people want to read
About the author
John Connolly
231 books7,833 followersJohn Connolly was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1968 and has, at various points in his life, worked as a journalist, a barman, a local government official, a waiter and a dogsbody at Harrods department store in London. He studied English in Trinity College, Dublin and journalism at Dublin City University, subsequently spending five years working as a freelance journalist for The Irish Times newspaper, to which he continues to contribute.
He is based in Dublin but divides his time between his native city and the United States.
This page is administered by John's assistant, Clair, on John's behalf. If you'd like to communicate with John directly, you can do so by writing to contact-at-johnconnollybooks.com, or by following him on Twitter at @JConnollyBooks.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
He is based in Dublin but divides his time between his native city and the United States.
This page is administered by John's assistant, Clair, on John's behalf. If you'd like to communicate with John directly, you can do so by writing to contact-at-johnconnollybooks.com, or by following him on Twitter at @JConnollyBooks.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 788 reviews
January 27, 2019
For those of you who are wondering if you should read Connolly, I don’t really know. He’s not precisely one I would have recommended for myself, but he’s become almost a genre of his own, a curious blend of vengeance wish-fulfillment, literary fiction, and a dash of supernatural horror. The story line has been evolving since the very first book, when Charlie Parker’s wife and young daughter were killed by a serial killer. It seems that despite a period or two of happy times, it has almost becomes Parker’s mission to avenge those targeted by killers of the most brutal sort.
A winter setting was perfect for a icy January stay-cation. The plot was less intriguing, as I have saw the exact story done on Supernatural, Season One, recently. The plot centers on a preternaturally lucky town, named ‘Prosperous.’ Sure, Connolly goes into the town with a little more depth than the tv show, but it’s just not a tale that has a lot to hold for me, no matter how Connolly is able to couch it in cult-like behavior of the town's resident. More so than the show–perhaps because of the depth–I never got full buy-in on the group-think that lets seemingly "normal" people kidnap others for --da-dum--nefarious motives.
Connolly’s other angle of late is to integrate an alternative lifestyle or social justice issue. He’s covered soldiers and PTSD, abuse of women (which he touches on again), and runaways and prostitution. I feel like he tends to do a solid job of presenting issues in a multilayered way. In this one, he explores a bit of the homeless community when the daughter of a homeless man has gone missing, and the man seems to have committed suicide.
One of the many reasons I like Connolly is his on-point social commentary. Regarding a man working at a homeless shelter:
“Stephen was clearly a good kid, but he had the egotism of youth. The world revolved around him, and consequently he believed that he had the power to change how it worked. And, in the way of the young, he had made another’s pain about himself, even if he did so for what seemed the best of reasons. Time and age would change him; if they didn’t, he wouldn’t be working in soup kitchens and shelters much longer.”
Brilliant. I see this often in young nurses. In a few short sentences, he captured a phenomenon I had noted but hadn’t been able to describe and the reasons I felt bothered and discomforted by it.
And this, the cutting edge of hope when one is in pain:
“Let him come, and let us be done with all this. But somehow he would steal enough sleep to continue, and each day he tried to convince himself that he could discern a diminution in his sufferings: more time between the spasms in his legs, like a child counting the second between cracks of thunder to reassure himself that the storm was passing; a little more control over his fingers and toes, like a transplant patient learning to use a new limb; and a slight reduction in the intensity of the noise in his ears, in the hope that madness might be held at bay.”
So the mystery, a mild one, solvable; the supernatural, a little more present, in the familial way, but takes us no farther in the series conflict. Decent enough, and somehow absorbing to me, despite not being outstanding at any one thing. As always, perhaps, a combination that is almost and leaves me wanting more.
Three and a half, rounding up because I stayed up to finish (me or the book; who can tell?)
A winter setting was perfect for a icy January stay-cation. The plot was less intriguing, as I have saw the exact story done on Supernatural, Season One, recently. The plot centers on a preternaturally lucky town, named ‘Prosperous.’ Sure, Connolly goes into the town with a little more depth than the tv show, but it’s just not a tale that has a lot to hold for me, no matter how Connolly is able to couch it in cult-like behavior of the town's resident. More so than the show–perhaps because of the depth–I never got full buy-in on the group-think that lets seemingly "normal" people kidnap others for --da-dum--nefarious motives.
Connolly’s other angle of late is to integrate an alternative lifestyle or social justice issue. He’s covered soldiers and PTSD, abuse of women (which he touches on again), and runaways and prostitution. I feel like he tends to do a solid job of presenting issues in a multilayered way. In this one, he explores a bit of the homeless community when the daughter of a homeless man has gone missing, and the man seems to have committed suicide.
One of the many reasons I like Connolly is his on-point social commentary. Regarding a man working at a homeless shelter:
“Stephen was clearly a good kid, but he had the egotism of youth. The world revolved around him, and consequently he believed that he had the power to change how it worked. And, in the way of the young, he had made another’s pain about himself, even if he did so for what seemed the best of reasons. Time and age would change him; if they didn’t, he wouldn’t be working in soup kitchens and shelters much longer.”
Brilliant. I see this often in young nurses. In a few short sentences, he captured a phenomenon I had noted but hadn’t been able to describe and the reasons I felt bothered and discomforted by it.
And this, the cutting edge of hope when one is in pain:
“Let him come, and let us be done with all this. But somehow he would steal enough sleep to continue, and each day he tried to convince himself that he could discern a diminution in his sufferings: more time between the spasms in his legs, like a child counting the second between cracks of thunder to reassure himself that the storm was passing; a little more control over his fingers and toes, like a transplant patient learning to use a new limb; and a slight reduction in the intensity of the noise in his ears, in the hope that madness might be held at bay.”
So the mystery, a mild one, solvable; the supernatural, a little more present, in the familial way, but takes us no farther in the series conflict. Decent enough, and somehow absorbing to me, despite not being outstanding at any one thing. As always, perhaps, a combination that is almost and leaves me wanting more.
Three and a half, rounding up because I stayed up to finish (me or the book; who can tell?)
June 3, 2025
This book was awesome and in my opinion, the BEST entry in the series so far. If you love Charlie Parker, you need to read this. If you're not reading the Charlie Parker series, you should be!
September 30, 2015
The Charlie Parker series by John Connolly mixes top draw detective fiction with a supernatural darkness, bordering on horror as he wages war on a hidden evil.
The Wolf In Winter is the 12th book of the series and John Connolly while seemingly throwing a suicide and normal missing persons case our way, hints at the end game for Charlie and all that follow him from the shadows.
This time Parker is compelled to throw his considerable force behind investigating the death of a homeless man and the disappearance of his daughter, everything points to the small almost clan like town of Prosperous in Maine and it becomes more apparent that there are sinister, dark secrets afoot.
The history of Prosperous is well researched amid a parochial background with obscure religious beliefs heralding back to the Northeast of England, something of the original self-sufficient spirit had remained, passed down the generations to the present. The town’s first settlers bought with them across the ocean a church, brick by brick, to carry on their devoted worship and it remained to this day, a town that protected its own, frowned on visitors and kept the bloodlines.
Prosperous maintained a low profile, did not call attention to itself and survived around a central board, devoted in every way to ensuring its secrets remained and its people thrived. They were however completed unprepared for the visit of Charlie Parker and as the pennies drop, they see only one way out, another tradition passed down, one of murder.
The usual humor is present in the shape of the two cinder blocks, the Fulcis ‘were essentially brooders by nature. They might not brood for very long, but they did tend to take some time to consider which bones they might enjoy breaking first’.
Another one when Charlie, Louis and Angel are hot on the Collectors trail discussing the merits of when to throw a tear gas grenade.
“Try not to get shot before you’ve thrown them,” Angel told me.
“I’ll try not to get shot after I’ve thrown them as well” I said.
It’s the darkness I love most around these stories, the fallen angels, demons, almost a mythos but the hints at Charlie Parkers end game are coming thick and fast. Why he’s untouched by the shadows, protected from afar and what the shadows hunt, what the believers hunt and Charlie’s part in it. The Ghosts he sees, the warnings, although not enough this time, Charlie Parker will be a changed man for the next outing and I can’t wait.
The prose is excellent as ever and John Connolly is at the top of my favourite authors list along with the Charlie Parker series. In the last five books we've had some classics as this series goes from strength to strength, The Lovers & The Wrath of Angels were both superb and The Wolf in Winter joins them on the top shelf.
Highly recommended.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
The Wolf In Winter is the 12th book of the series and John Connolly while seemingly throwing a suicide and normal missing persons case our way, hints at the end game for Charlie and all that follow him from the shadows.
This time Parker is compelled to throw his considerable force behind investigating the death of a homeless man and the disappearance of his daughter, everything points to the small almost clan like town of Prosperous in Maine and it becomes more apparent that there are sinister, dark secrets afoot.
The history of Prosperous is well researched amid a parochial background with obscure religious beliefs heralding back to the Northeast of England, something of the original self-sufficient spirit had remained, passed down the generations to the present. The town’s first settlers bought with them across the ocean a church, brick by brick, to carry on their devoted worship and it remained to this day, a town that protected its own, frowned on visitors and kept the bloodlines.
Prosperous maintained a low profile, did not call attention to itself and survived around a central board, devoted in every way to ensuring its secrets remained and its people thrived. They were however completed unprepared for the visit of Charlie Parker and as the pennies drop, they see only one way out, another tradition passed down, one of murder.
The usual humor is present in the shape of the two cinder blocks, the Fulcis ‘were essentially brooders by nature. They might not brood for very long, but they did tend to take some time to consider which bones they might enjoy breaking first’.
Another one when Charlie, Louis and Angel are hot on the Collectors trail discussing the merits of when to throw a tear gas grenade.
“Try not to get shot before you’ve thrown them,” Angel told me.
“I’ll try not to get shot after I’ve thrown them as well” I said.
It’s the darkness I love most around these stories, the fallen angels, demons, almost a mythos but the hints at Charlie Parkers end game are coming thick and fast. Why he’s untouched by the shadows, protected from afar and what the shadows hunt, what the believers hunt and Charlie’s part in it. The Ghosts he sees, the warnings, although not enough this time, Charlie Parker will be a changed man for the next outing and I can’t wait.
The prose is excellent as ever and John Connolly is at the top of my favourite authors list along with the Charlie Parker series. In the last five books we've had some classics as this series goes from strength to strength, The Lovers & The Wrath of Angels were both superb and The Wolf in Winter joins them on the top shelf.
Highly recommended.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
February 5, 2025
I love me some Charlie Parker and friends. Have yet to bestow any of this series with less than four stars. However, some resonate more than others.
Five stars all the way— for the creep factor, for the great villains, and the “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” story thread.
The idea of a malevolent town is great— it actually is another character. Mixing evil, greed, lust for power and early American history adds up to a winning combination.
I spend a lot of time trying to guess the symbolism of Parker and some of the supernatural flavoring of this series. What does Mr Connolly have in store for Charlie, Louis and Angel?
Can’t wait to spend a few more creepy, slightly violent but oh so entertaining hours with my favorite literary trio!!
(Reviewed 7/25/21)
Five stars all the way— for the creep factor, for the great villains, and the “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” story thread.
The idea of a malevolent town is great— it actually is another character. Mixing evil, greed, lust for power and early American history adds up to a winning combination.
I spend a lot of time trying to guess the symbolism of Parker and some of the supernatural flavoring of this series. What does Mr Connolly have in store for Charlie, Louis and Angel?
Can’t wait to spend a few more creepy, slightly violent but oh so entertaining hours with my favorite literary trio!!
(Reviewed 7/25/21)
August 2, 2015
Another brilliant book from John Connolly in the Charlie Parker series. This one gets pretty spooky with the return of Susan and his first daughter and some interesting supernatural being which lives under the churchyard and has to be fed with young girls. I love Charlie but I also enjoy seeing Angel and Louis doing their thing and they have quite a large section of this book all to themselves so I was very happy. It was one of those books that I didn't want to end because I was enjoying it so much.
September 30, 2022
How does John Connolly keep writing fantastic books in this series?!
The writing, characters and plots are high quality and I’m always excited to get back to this.
The Wolf in Winter is another great addition and takes the reader on a journey of heartbreak, dark secrets and tons of revenge.
Jude, a homeless man is found dead one night and the circumstances of the death has Charlie Parker looking into the case. Jude was looking for his missing daughter when he passed away and Parker looks to the community called Prosperous, Maine for answers.
Prosperous is not all that it appears to be and Parker senses dark secrets about the citizens who live there and of an old church that was transported from England centuries ago.
As the questions of Jude’s death keeps unraveling, Charlie Parker is faced with a high level of danger and ruthless opponents that he's not prepared for.
The Wolf in Winter has fabulous characters and introduces us to new ones, while expanding on others from past books.
I’m so excited to get to the next book after that cliffhanger ending. I just love this series and author!
The writing, characters and plots are high quality and I’m always excited to get back to this.
The Wolf in Winter is another great addition and takes the reader on a journey of heartbreak, dark secrets and tons of revenge.
Jude, a homeless man is found dead one night and the circumstances of the death has Charlie Parker looking into the case. Jude was looking for his missing daughter when he passed away and Parker looks to the community called Prosperous, Maine for answers.
Prosperous is not all that it appears to be and Parker senses dark secrets about the citizens who live there and of an old church that was transported from England centuries ago.
As the questions of Jude’s death keeps unraveling, Charlie Parker is faced with a high level of danger and ruthless opponents that he's not prepared for.
The Wolf in Winter has fabulous characters and introduces us to new ones, while expanding on others from past books.
I’m so excited to get to the next book after that cliffhanger ending. I just love this series and author!
August 14, 2020
Yeah me too. I am shocked I gave a Charlie Parker book 2 stars, but here we are. Not too much to say except this book dragged. A lot. And I love Angel and Louis usually, but I got so sick of them by the end of this book. Because this book focuses on them, The Collector, and some other people towards the end the book didn't read as much like a Charlie Parker novel. I honestly think things would have been better if the series had focused on Charlie, Angel, and Louis hunting down The Collector or the town of Prosperous. Having so much in this one just didn't work for me at all. The flow was all over the place. I got to the end and felt genuine disappointment, and not because the book was over, but that I had wasted my time on this one.
"The Wolf in Winter" has Charlie, Angel, and Louis on the hunt for The Collector after the latter's (justified in my opinion) actions in the last book. Charlie takes a pause though when a case comes his way which has him traveling to the town of Prosperous. The town itself seems spooky and full of secrets. And when Charlie gets too close, those who want the town to continue to be lucky take matters into their own hands which causes repercussions for a lot of people.
I loved the standalone book featuring Angel and Louis but wow. This one was not great. I think the book picks up though when we finally get them moving and not just doing their Scooby Doo investigation into things.
Charlie I thought was being dumb about a lot of things in this one, especially him thinking he can somehow take on someone like The Collector. Frankly I am glad that Connolly ended things the way he did, because I like the Collector as a character and would hate to see him go.
The writing was okay, I just think that this one had too many moving parts that just didn't gel well. I think that Charlie investigating Prosperous should have been it's own thing instead of trying to shoehorn in a lot of other things that this book tried to. I was fascinated by the town and wanted to read more about it and the goings on there. I was disappointed every time we left that setting.
"The Wolf in Winter" has Charlie, Angel, and Louis on the hunt for The Collector after the latter's (justified in my opinion) actions in the last book. Charlie takes a pause though when a case comes his way which has him traveling to the town of Prosperous. The town itself seems spooky and full of secrets. And when Charlie gets too close, those who want the town to continue to be lucky take matters into their own hands which causes repercussions for a lot of people.
I loved the standalone book featuring Angel and Louis but wow. This one was not great. I think the book picks up though when we finally get them moving and not just doing their Scooby Doo investigation into things.
Charlie I thought was being dumb about a lot of things in this one, especially him thinking he can somehow take on someone like The Collector. Frankly I am glad that Connolly ended things the way he did, because I like the Collector as a character and would hate to see him go.
The writing was okay, I just think that this one had too many moving parts that just didn't gel well. I think that Charlie investigating Prosperous should have been it's own thing instead of trying to shoehorn in a lot of other things that this book tried to. I was fascinated by the town and wanted to read more about it and the goings on there. I was disappointed every time we left that setting.
July 23, 2025
Малко ми е тъжно, защото това е първата книга от серията, която не успя да заслужи цели пет звезди. Беше ми доста интересна до към средата и някак успя в края да не ми допадне достатъчно.
Продължавам със следващата история за живота на Чарли Паркър, неговите врагове и другари.
Цитати:
"Да си бездомник, е работа на пълен работен ден. Да си беден, е работа на пълен работен ден."
"Бездомниците вече си имат работа и тази работа е да оцеляват."
"Всеки ден е като предишния и с всеки ден ставаш малко по-стар и малко по-уморен."
Продължавам със следващата история за живота на Чарли Паркър, неговите врагове и другари.
Цитати:
"Да си бездомник, е работа на пълен работен ден. Да си беден, е работа на пълен работен ден."
"Бездомниците вече си имат работа и тази работа е да оцеляват."
"Всеки ден е като предишния и с всеки ден ставаш малко по-стар и малко по-уморен."
May 5, 2014
Hell and fury visits a little town called Prosperous, and the secret that it hides beneath its ruins . . .
And all because a homeless man went looking for his daughter and ended up getting hung. The fact that he was known to a certain PI called Charlie Parker was about to become a problem for a nice and peacefull little place called Prosperous. At least that is the driving thought of the towns Eldermen & pastor, even if the towns police chief think they are wrong.
Once again Charlie Parker has a run in with a religious idea thought to NO longer excist in our Christian society. But old Gods seem stick around and live on, in fact they hunger for life.
And indeed at times the book made me think of the movie "The Wickerman"[the original movie not the painface one with Nocolas Cage], and that is a positive view.
Another great aspect of the book is the attention the homeless and womens shelter get in this book, and how somehow Charlie Parker seems in a sense to be their champion. Mr Connolly does write a wicked exciting book and does give a great statement on social issues as well in a way that also forwards his tale.
The first half of the book is kinda slow and setting the 2nd part of the book with an insightfull and tense description of live, thoughts & actions of everybody involved in this book and the Charlie Parker tales.
We get everybody: Angel & Louis, the Collector and his lawyer employer, the Leper Man, the Fulci brothers, etc.
As a fan of this series I most certainly did get everything I wanted in combination with a great and exciting story about the price women/men are willing to pay for their happiness and peace of mind.
Two minor points of negativism towards this book:
1] How dare the writer leave us hanging like this a whole year long or untill his next publication......
2] Did the accident with the deer really get cleared up as it felt rather staged and the consequenses were rather steep. But I might have missed it.
Overal judgement: easily a 5 star book in a series that has me addicted for more books about the main character and his friends.
John Connolly is for me one of the most exciting writers of recent times and anybody willing to read this book I can offer only one piece of advise, start with the first novel of the series and read your way to this publication. You will not be dissapointed in fact you might feel very hooked like a little fish on a big f*cking hook.
And all because a homeless man went looking for his daughter and ended up getting hung. The fact that he was known to a certain PI called Charlie Parker was about to become a problem for a nice and peacefull little place called Prosperous. At least that is the driving thought of the towns Eldermen & pastor, even if the towns police chief think they are wrong.
Once again Charlie Parker has a run in with a religious idea thought to NO longer excist in our Christian society. But old Gods seem stick around and live on, in fact they hunger for life.
And indeed at times the book made me think of the movie "The Wickerman"[the original movie not the painface one with Nocolas Cage], and that is a positive view.
Another great aspect of the book is the attention the homeless and womens shelter get in this book, and how somehow Charlie Parker seems in a sense to be their champion. Mr Connolly does write a wicked exciting book and does give a great statement on social issues as well in a way that also forwards his tale.
The first half of the book is kinda slow and setting the 2nd part of the book with an insightfull and tense description of live, thoughts & actions of everybody involved in this book and the Charlie Parker tales.
We get everybody: Angel & Louis, the Collector and his lawyer employer, the Leper Man, the Fulci brothers, etc.
As a fan of this series I most certainly did get everything I wanted in combination with a great and exciting story about the price women/men are willing to pay for their happiness and peace of mind.
Two minor points of negativism towards this book:
1] How dare the writer leave us hanging like this a whole year long or untill his next publication......
2] Did the accident with the deer really get cleared up as it felt rather staged and the consequenses were rather steep. But I might have missed it.
Overal judgement: easily a 5 star book in a series that has me addicted for more books about the main character and his friends.
John Connolly is for me one of the most exciting writers of recent times and anybody willing to read this book I can offer only one piece of advise, start with the first novel of the series and read your way to this publication. You will not be dissapointed in fact you might feel very hooked like a little fish on a big f*cking hook.
August 26, 2022
Another superbly written and very, very dark instalment in the series. This felt a bit different from previous books, and also significant. I feel like this series could go in a number of directions from here.
May 3, 2014
The citizens of Prosperous, a small town in the state of Maine, have been a fortunate bunch. Over the years, the town has thrived and its inhabitants have flourished. But when the death of a homeless man and the disappearance of his daughter bring Detective Charlie Parker to town, secrets threaten to come to the surface. Can Parker uncover the truth about Prosperous’ darkness or will he end up like many before him – fed to the town.
Connolly opens the twelfth installment of his acclaimed Charlie Parker series with a bang. Louis, Angel and Parker have been hunting The Collector for months and believe to finally have him cornered. When things go awry, the focus shifts to the town of Prosperous following a recent event that threatens the town’s peace. Throughout the rest of the novel, Connolly moves between Parker and a select few of Prosperous’ authority figures creating a quick pace that doesn’t let up until the book is finished.
Louis and Angel are in top form, as always, and Parker’s adversaries are signature evil Connolly creations. With a series so established, comes a large cast of characters. Throughout the novel, several folks from Parker’s past make an appearance or two showing the reader just how deep Connolly’s universe is. It’s a giant sandbox with which he can bury and unearth whomever he wishes.
Connolly ends the novel in an interesting place and as an audience, we’re not sure where he’s going to take the series from here. If you can’t tell, I’m trying to be as vague as possible to avoid potential spoilers. We’re told that Parker may never be the same, that his friends and family are worried about his well being. Charlie Parker is getting older and you’ve got to wonder, as a fan, just how long he’ll be able to keep up with the demands of the job.
As always, I’m anticipating just where Connolly is going to take the story next. I love when he treads into dark territory and The Wolf in Winter is about as bleak as they come.
Also posted @ Every Read Thing
Connolly opens the twelfth installment of his acclaimed Charlie Parker series with a bang. Louis, Angel and Parker have been hunting The Collector for months and believe to finally have him cornered. When things go awry, the focus shifts to the town of Prosperous following a recent event that threatens the town’s peace. Throughout the rest of the novel, Connolly moves between Parker and a select few of Prosperous’ authority figures creating a quick pace that doesn’t let up until the book is finished.
Louis and Angel are in top form, as always, and Parker’s adversaries are signature evil Connolly creations. With a series so established, comes a large cast of characters. Throughout the novel, several folks from Parker’s past make an appearance or two showing the reader just how deep Connolly’s universe is. It’s a giant sandbox with which he can bury and unearth whomever he wishes.
Connolly ends the novel in an interesting place and as an audience, we’re not sure where he’s going to take the series from here. If you can’t tell, I’m trying to be as vague as possible to avoid potential spoilers. We’re told that Parker may never be the same, that his friends and family are worried about his well being. Charlie Parker is getting older and you’ve got to wonder, as a fan, just how long he’ll be able to keep up with the demands of the job.
As always, I’m anticipating just where Connolly is going to take the story next. I love when he treads into dark territory and The Wolf in Winter is about as bleak as they come.
Also posted @ Every Read Thing
June 2, 2025
I complained about The Wrath of Angels being all preamble; The Wolf in Winter was here, waiting to laugh at me as it completely dispensed with the concept and dumped me straight into the action. Maybe I was right about John Connolly needing a break - this was the first book published two years after it's predecessor since number 6 - but if not, he did something, because I felt an energy to this book that I didn't in the last.
If you've watched Supernatural, this story might feel familiar to you; a town protected, made stronger on the blood of the weak. There's a few different allegories to play with there, and John Connolly is a believer in making his voice heard on plenty of injustices; this book was published in 2014 but believe me when I tell you that each and every issue spoken about is still relevant.
The writing is, as usual, absolutely spectacular, too. I say this with every review I write for this series, but you never know who'll see what and in what order, so I'm afraid I'm going to keep saying it, too. There genuinely isn't another writer working in the genre who can spin webs of words with the beauty that John Connolly manages. It's that beauty that keeps the darkness tolerable for me.
If you've watched Supernatural, this story might feel familiar to you; a town protected, made stronger on the blood of the weak. There's a few different allegories to play with there, and John Connolly is a believer in making his voice heard on plenty of injustices; this book was published in 2014 but believe me when I tell you that each and every issue spoken about is still relevant.
The writing is, as usual, absolutely spectacular, too. I say this with every review I write for this series, but you never know who'll see what and in what order, so I'm afraid I'm going to keep saying it, too. There genuinely isn't another writer working in the genre who can spin webs of words with the beauty that John Connolly manages. It's that beauty that keeps the darkness tolerable for me.
September 30, 2022
Very easily 5 stars for me on this one. This series keeps getting better as I go!
October 12, 2015
Charlie Parker investigates the death of tramp with a missing daughter. And the search takes him to the city Prosperous, a peaceful and affluent little town in Main with an old stone church. But the town has a dark secret and there are people in the city that will do anything to protect the secret.
The story in the book slowly builds up, you get to know the new characters involved and you follow Charlie as he tries to get to the bottom of the case with the dead tramp and his missing daughter. It’s never boring, John Connolly carefully draws you into the story and everything builds up to a violent finale. I was a bit troubled that there was so little Angel and Louis in the first half of the book, but I needed not worry, they returned to the story with a vengeance. The only complaint I have about the story is that I wanted a bigger confrontation in the end. It was over a bit too soon, and that was a bit of a letdown.
The hardest part for me reading this book was putting it down but at the same time I almost didn’t want to finish it since I knew that after I finish the book I will have a long wait for the next book. Gone are the days when I had several Charlie Parker books to read through. Although I’m a bit tempted to re-read the books, especially the first ones that I read.
The story in the book slowly builds up, you get to know the new characters involved and you follow Charlie as he tries to get to the bottom of the case with the dead tramp and his missing daughter. It’s never boring, John Connolly carefully draws you into the story and everything builds up to a violent finale. I was a bit troubled that there was so little Angel and Louis in the first half of the book, but I needed not worry, they returned to the story with a vengeance. The only complaint I have about the story is that I wanted a bigger confrontation in the end. It was over a bit too soon, and that was a bit of a letdown.
The hardest part for me reading this book was putting it down but at the same time I almost didn’t want to finish it since I knew that after I finish the book I will have a long wait for the next book. Gone are the days when I had several Charlie Parker books to read through. Although I’m a bit tempted to re-read the books, especially the first ones that I read.
April 11, 2015
There is something evil in the town of Prosperous and Detective Charlie Parker is on to it....
This killer of a crime-mystery with a touch of supernatural really grabbed my attention at the get-go.......unfortunately, I did not realize it was the 12th book in a series and a few significant characters from the past made for a bit of confusion throughout the last half of the book.
So.......while I liked the writing, Detective Parker's character and thought the story of a cursed town a good one, the combination of a ending and my oversight resulted in an average read........darn it!
August 7, 2015
I finally picked this up a few weeks ago in a charity shop for £2. It was sad, but that's what this series had become for me. Just another of those you eventually get round to but from which you expect very little. A chance to catch up with the characters and nothing more. It had been hard to let go but I hadn't truly enjoyed the series since The Unquiet, and that's about 6 books ago. It felt like it had lost it's magic. Considering I still have my copy of Every Dead Thing (that i bought in 1999) and that it remains in my top 5 best crime novels, it had become an expression of self-torture to hold the books in my hand and hope for better.
But...
The Wolf In Winter is everything I need and expect and hope from John Connolly and Charlie Parker. There are so many ways in which it excels: the focus on Charlie, Angel, and Louis, the corruption and degeneracy of the people in Prosperous, the hint of darker forces, the resurgence of familiar names and groups. Underlying it all, the seeds of a convergence of powers, and a building menace, a sense of threat that will lead to answers and conclusions. There is truly nothing else like these novels.
Just one book has taken the series back to the top of my reading list. I could write so much more but I need time to process and to immediately begin the next installment. I'm lucky in that my indifference has provided me with two to read at once. So now I pick up A Song of Shadows with excitement and not a little trepidation...
But...
The Wolf In Winter is everything I need and expect and hope from John Connolly and Charlie Parker. There are so many ways in which it excels: the focus on Charlie, Angel, and Louis, the corruption and degeneracy of the people in Prosperous, the hint of darker forces, the resurgence of familiar names and groups. Underlying it all, the seeds of a convergence of powers, and a building menace, a sense of threat that will lead to answers and conclusions. There is truly nothing else like these novels.
Just one book has taken the series back to the top of my reading list. I could write so much more but I need time to process and to immediately begin the next installment. I'm lucky in that my indifference has provided me with two to read at once. So now I pick up A Song of Shadows with excitement and not a little trepidation...
July 28, 2018
Καταπληκτικό! Δε μπορούσα να αφήσω το βιβλίο από τα χέρια μου! Εξαιρετική πλοκή, γεμάτη ανατροπές και ένταση... Ο John Connolly για ακόμα μία φορά μας δείχνει πόσο ταλαντούχος συγγραφέας είναι!
August 18, 2018
Ο λύκος του χειμώνα είναι η δωδέκατη περιπέτεια του ιδιωτικού ντεντέκτιβ Τσάρλι Πάρκερ και η δυσκολότερη μέχρι τώρα για να εξηγήσω γιατί μου άρεσε πολύ, μιας και ο βασικός λόγος είναι από μόνος του ένα πολύ μεγάλο σπόιλερ!
Ας τα πάρουμε όμως από την αρχή. Όπως λέει και στο οπισθόφυλλο, ο θάνατος ενός άστεγου και η εξαφάνιση της κόρης του φέρνουν στο Πρόσπερους τον Πάρκερ. Δεν έχει καμία ουσιαστική υποχρέωση να διερευνήσει το παραμικρό, αλλά έχει μάθει ότι ο άστεγος αυτός –που ήταν γνωστός του– προσπαθούσε να μαζέψει όσα περισσότερα χρήματα μπορούσε, έτσι ώστε να τον πληρώσει ακόμα και για δύο ώρες, για να τον βοηθήσει να βρει την εξαφανισμένη κόρη του. Δεν του πάει λοιπόν η καρδιά να το αφήσει να περάσει έτσι, οπότε αρχίζει να ψάχνει τι έχει συμβεί. Μαζί με τον Πάρκερ, ανακαλύπτουμε σταδιακά κι εμείς οι αναγνώστες ότι το Πρόσπερους είναι ένα σκοτεινό μυστήριο από μόνο του, από εκείνα που πραγματικά τραβάνε τον ιδιωτικό ντεντέκτιβ όπως τις νυχτοπεταλούδες το φως.
Για να πω την αλήθεια, στην αρχή το βιβλίο δεν με ενθουσίασε τόσο, δίχως ποτέ να ανακαλύψω το γιατί. Σταδιακά όμως άρχισα να κολλάω όλο και περισσότερο, δίχως και πάλι να καταλάβω τι άλλαξε. Σε κάθε περίπτωση, από την 150 σελίδα και μετά το κόλλ��μα έγινε εθισμός και πάτησα φουλ γκάζι, φτάνοντας μέσα στην ίδια βραδιά στη σελίδα 426, δηλαδή στο τέλος της περιπέτειας.
Κάνοντας μια διαγώνια ανάγνωση για να φρεσκάρω το βιβλίο (όλο αυτό που περιγράφω είχε συμβεί πριν από καμιά διετία), νομίζω ότι κατάλαβα καλύτερα τι ήταν αυτό που με τράβηξε τόσο, και ήταν το ίδιο το Πρόσπερους. Έχω μεγάλη αγάπη για αυτά τα μικρά, μυστήρια και γεμάτα σκοτεινά μυστικά μέρη και έτσι, όταν σελίδα με τη σελίδα το Πρόσπερους άρχισε να γίνεται αυτό ακριβώς, απλά μαγεύτηκα. Κι όταν στη σελίδα 285 έγινε εκείνο το περιστατ��κό που αποφεύγω να πω για λόγους σπόιλερ, κι όταν λίγο αργότερα χρειάστηκε να γίνει μια πολύ σκοτεινή συμμαχία για να λυθεί όλο αυτό, ήταν αναμενόμενο το γκάζι να κολλήσει στο πάτωμα και να φτάσω μονομιάς μέχρι τέλους.
Να κλείσω σημειώνοντας ότι σταδιακά έχω αρχίσει να αναφέρω όλο και λιγότερο το περιβόητο ποσοστό αστυνομικού/μεταφυσικού που διακατέχει την όλη σειρά, αντιλαμβανόμενος ότι δεν έχει πια νόημα. Αλλού υπερισχύει το ένα, αλλού το άλλο, αλλά και τα δύο είναι αναπόσπαστα κομμάτια της συνολικής πλοκής.
Αποκλείεται να έχει φτάσει κάποιος σταθερός αναγνώστης στο δωδέκατο βιβλίο της σειράς και να μην το έχει αποδεχτεί αυτό ως έχει…
Ας τα πάρουμε όμως από την αρχή. Όπως λέει και στο οπισθόφυλλο, ο θάνατος ενός άστεγου και η εξαφάνιση της κόρης του φέρνουν στο Πρόσπερους τον Πάρκερ. Δεν έχει καμία ουσιαστική υποχρέωση να διερευνήσει το παραμικρό, αλλά έχει μάθει ότι ο άστεγος αυτός –που ήταν γνωστός του– προσπαθούσε να μαζέψει όσα περισσότερα χρήματα μπορούσε, έτσι ώστε να τον πληρώσει ακόμα και για δύο ώρες, για να τον βοηθήσει να βρει την εξαφανισμένη κόρη του. Δεν του πάει λοιπόν η καρδιά να το αφήσει να περάσει έτσι, οπότε αρχίζει να ψάχνει τι έχει συμβεί. Μαζί με τον Πάρκερ, ανακαλύπτουμε σταδιακά κι εμείς οι αναγνώστες ότι το Πρόσπερους είναι ένα σκοτεινό μυστήριο από μόνο του, από εκείνα που πραγματικά τραβάνε τον ιδιωτικό ντεντέκτιβ όπως τις νυχτοπεταλούδες το φως.
Για να πω την αλήθεια, στην αρχή το βιβλίο δεν με ενθουσίασε τόσο, δίχως ποτέ να ανακαλύψω το γιατί. Σταδιακά όμως άρχισα να κολλάω όλο και περισσότερο, δίχως και πάλι να καταλάβω τι άλλαξε. Σε κάθε περίπτωση, από την 150 σελίδα και μετά το κόλλ��μα έγινε εθισμός και πάτησα φουλ γκάζι, φτάνοντας μέσα στην ίδια βραδιά στη σελίδα 426, δηλαδή στο τέλος της περιπέτειας.
Κάνοντας μια διαγώνια ανάγνωση για να φρεσκάρω το βιβλίο (όλο αυτό που περιγράφω είχε συμβεί πριν από καμιά διετία), νομίζω ότι κατάλαβα καλύτερα τι ήταν αυτό που με τράβηξε τόσο, και ήταν το ίδιο το Πρόσπερους. Έχω μεγάλη αγάπη για αυτά τα μικρά, μυστήρια και γεμάτα σκοτεινά μυστικά μέρη και έτσι, όταν σελίδα με τη σελίδα το Πρόσπερους άρχισε να γίνεται αυτό ακριβώς, απλά μαγεύτηκα. Κι όταν στη σελίδα 285 έγινε εκείνο το περιστατ��κό που αποφεύγω να πω για λόγους σπόιλερ, κι όταν λίγο αργότερα χρειάστηκε να γίνει μια πολύ σκοτεινή συμμαχία για να λυθεί όλο αυτό, ήταν αναμενόμενο το γκάζι να κολλήσει στο πάτωμα και να φτάσω μονομιάς μέχρι τέλους.
Να κλείσω σημειώνοντας ότι σταδιακά έχω αρχίσει να αναφέρω όλο και λιγότερο το περιβόητο ποσοστό αστυνομικού/μεταφυσικού που διακατέχει την όλη σειρά, αντιλαμβανόμενος ότι δεν έχει πια νόημα. Αλλού υπερισχύει το ένα, αλλού το άλλο, αλλά και τα δύο είναι αναπόσπαστα κομμάτια της συνολικής πλοκής.
Αποκλείεται να έχει φτάσει κάποιος σταθερός αναγνώστης στο δωδέκατο βιβλίο της σειράς και να μην το έχει αποδεχτεί αυτό ως έχει…
June 24, 2022
Another brilliant book from this amazing series.
September 26, 2022
Another great book in this amazing series! We get some new characters in this one. I hope we see Ronald and Shakey again. This one is heavy on the folk horror vibes and that’s ok with me! This one ends on a huge cliff hanger. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
October 28, 2014
Now Available!
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Atria Books via Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
3 Stars
It is really my fault. I take full responsibility on this one. I saw this book on Net Galley and thought it would be a great read. It probably was.....to fans of the series. That's right - I thought I could jump into a series on book number 12 and not have any problems. Boy was I ever wrong.
This was one of those books that I liked at times and just wanted to finish at other times. I liked the parts of the book that focused solely on the main storyline in this book. I was bored by all of the parts that were not directly tied to that storyline. I am guessing that the pieces of this book that I did not like were part of a story arc that spans several books in the series. I am sure that fans of this series loved those parts but I really just wanted to get back to the mystery.
The death of a homeless man and the disappearance of his daughter brings the town of Prosperous to the attention of Charlie Parker. As Charlie looks into Prosperous, he finds that there may be more going on in that town than just good fortune. As the town protects its secrets, Charlie works to find out what is really going on in the town of Prosperous.
I had such high hopes for this book. I love anything supernatural and I love a good mystery. The Charlie Parker series is described and a blending of the two and I do think that it that blending is well executed. I was a bit surprised to find after reading the book that Charlie Parker was in less than 25% of the story by my rough estimates. Most of what we learn regarding the mystery of Prosperous is comes from parts of the book told from various residents of that town.
The mystery in Prosperous was great. It was exciting and interesting. It was well told and I found myself totally engrossed in the story. Unfortunately, that was usually when the story would switch to something not connected to the Prosperous mystery and I would grow bored. I really think that this book is really best for readers of the series.
I am actually curious how I would feel about this series if I actually read it from the beginning. I did like John Connolly's style of writing so I would like to read more of his work....but no more jumping around in the series for me.
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Atria Books via Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
3 Stars
It is really my fault. I take full responsibility on this one. I saw this book on Net Galley and thought it would be a great read. It probably was.....to fans of the series. That's right - I thought I could jump into a series on book number 12 and not have any problems. Boy was I ever wrong.
This was one of those books that I liked at times and just wanted to finish at other times. I liked the parts of the book that focused solely on the main storyline in this book. I was bored by all of the parts that were not directly tied to that storyline. I am guessing that the pieces of this book that I did not like were part of a story arc that spans several books in the series. I am sure that fans of this series loved those parts but I really just wanted to get back to the mystery.
The death of a homeless man and the disappearance of his daughter brings the town of Prosperous to the attention of Charlie Parker. As Charlie looks into Prosperous, he finds that there may be more going on in that town than just good fortune. As the town protects its secrets, Charlie works to find out what is really going on in the town of Prosperous.
I had such high hopes for this book. I love anything supernatural and I love a good mystery. The Charlie Parker series is described and a blending of the two and I do think that it that blending is well executed. I was a bit surprised to find after reading the book that Charlie Parker was in less than 25% of the story by my rough estimates. Most of what we learn regarding the mystery of Prosperous is comes from parts of the book told from various residents of that town.
The mystery in Prosperous was great. It was exciting and interesting. It was well told and I found myself totally engrossed in the story. Unfortunately, that was usually when the story would switch to something not connected to the Prosperous mystery and I would grow bored. I really think that this book is really best for readers of the series.
I am actually curious how I would feel about this series if I actually read it from the beginning. I did like John Connolly's style of writing so I would like to read more of his work....but no more jumping around in the series for me.
June 20, 2015
There is a presence of perfect and profound hostility in the town of Prosperous. A malevolent hunger given form. And it needs to be fed.
There is all kinds of crazy shit going down in this one and all of my favorite characters are back in the mix. It’s getting heavy up in here and I have a feeling it’s about to blow. Best series around. I am looking forward to the next one for sure.
There is all kinds of crazy shit going down in this one and all of my favorite characters are back in the mix. It’s getting heavy up in here and I have a feeling it’s about to blow. Best series around. I am looking forward to the next one for sure.
October 24, 2024
John Connolly’s twelfth book in his Charlie Parker series, “The Wolf in Winter” is his best yet. (And, yes, I’m well aware that I make a similar statement in all my reviews of his books, so take it with a grain of salt...)
Parker, a private eye with a haunted soul---literally and figuratively---has always straddled the edges of the Other Side, but it is in this book that he comes the closest to making the ultimate decision of whether to stay among the living or join the dead.
This is, perhaps, what makes “The Wolf in Winter” Connolly’s most emotionally powerful and most terrifying novel to date. Parker has cheated Death so many times, Death has finally come to collect. The twist is that Parker may be okay with it.
Parker hears about a homeless man named Jude who may have been looking to hire him to find a missing daughter. Unfortunately, Jude is found dead from an apparently clear-cut case of suicide. There’s enough doubt, however, in Parker’s mind to think that Jude was murdered and staged to look like suicide.
His investigation leads him to a small town named Prosperous, Maine. It’s aptly named, as the town seems to have an uncanny---and possibly preternatural---ability to weather tough economies and avoid tragedies. For example, Parker is shocked to discover that every Prosperous native to have served in any war, starting from the Revolutionary to the Gulf, has managed to make it home alive and well. It’s a statistical anomaly, almost as if the town and its people are being watched over by a protective deity.
Of course, as Parker discovers, it is. But the protection comes at a cost, one that generations of Prosperous natives have paid with their souls.
How does one man go up against an entire town, especially own overseen by a vindictive god?
Not easily, it turns out. Thankfully, Parker has many friends. Some he’s not even aware of, and some that he may not even want on his side...
Once again, Connolly has crafted a beautifully horrific suspense thriller, with plenty of real-world action and otherworldly nightmares to satisfy any reader hungry for thrills and chills.
Parker, a private eye with a haunted soul---literally and figuratively---has always straddled the edges of the Other Side, but it is in this book that he comes the closest to making the ultimate decision of whether to stay among the living or join the dead.
This is, perhaps, what makes “The Wolf in Winter” Connolly’s most emotionally powerful and most terrifying novel to date. Parker has cheated Death so many times, Death has finally come to collect. The twist is that Parker may be okay with it.
Parker hears about a homeless man named Jude who may have been looking to hire him to find a missing daughter. Unfortunately, Jude is found dead from an apparently clear-cut case of suicide. There’s enough doubt, however, in Parker’s mind to think that Jude was murdered and staged to look like suicide.
His investigation leads him to a small town named Prosperous, Maine. It’s aptly named, as the town seems to have an uncanny---and possibly preternatural---ability to weather tough economies and avoid tragedies. For example, Parker is shocked to discover that every Prosperous native to have served in any war, starting from the Revolutionary to the Gulf, has managed to make it home alive and well. It’s a statistical anomaly, almost as if the town and its people are being watched over by a protective deity.
Of course, as Parker discovers, it is. But the protection comes at a cost, one that generations of Prosperous natives have paid with their souls.
How does one man go up against an entire town, especially own overseen by a vindictive god?
Not easily, it turns out. Thankfully, Parker has many friends. Some he’s not even aware of, and some that he may not even want on his side...
Once again, Connolly has crafted a beautifully horrific suspense thriller, with plenty of real-world action and otherworldly nightmares to satisfy any reader hungry for thrills and chills.
March 6, 2015
John Connolly raises the bar on Dark Fiction every time he puts pen to paper, and the latest Charlie Parker thriller is no exception.
A tale of small town secrets that balances the evil men, and other things, do with true humanity....an honest, heartfelt empathy that is so very rare in the genre.
Highest recommendation/Required reading
A tale of small town secrets that balances the evil men, and other things, do with true humanity....an honest, heartfelt empathy that is so very rare in the genre.
Highest recommendation/Required reading
October 30, 2014
3.5 stars
I received this book through Goodreads first reads giveaway.
This was the 12th book in a series and I had not read the previous books, but I found this book did a good job as a stand alone book for me. There were parts/Characters in the book where it would have been nice to have some background information (the hunt for the Collector, Cambion, more on Parker's deceased wife and daughter, etc.) yet even without the background information the book was good. This book had a mix of mystery, horror (mild) and the supernatural. Charlie Parker is a private detective who is investigating the disappearance of a missing girl and the death of her father, a homeless man who occasionally provided help to Parker on his cases. The Town of Prosperous sets the stage. A small town in Maine that has deep, dark secrets. The setting of the book initially reminded me of books by Stephen King - small town(s) in Maine with creepy people doing creepy things.But this is where my comparison ends.
I really enjoyed this novel by Connolly. I thought the story enfolded at a nice pace although I would have liked more on the history of Prosperous. I hesitate to say more about this as I don't want to give away the plot. I think this book would appeal to many types of readers - those who like mysteries, those who like crime novels, etc. This book is perfect for this time of year. This book did peak my interest in this book series and I would be willing to go back and read some earlier books in the series.
I received this book through Goodreads first reads giveaway.
This was the 12th book in a series and I had not read the previous books, but I found this book did a good job as a stand alone book for me. There were parts/Characters in the book where it would have been nice to have some background information (the hunt for the Collector, Cambion, more on Parker's deceased wife and daughter, etc.) yet even without the background information the book was good. This book had a mix of mystery, horror (mild) and the supernatural. Charlie Parker is a private detective who is investigating the disappearance of a missing girl and the death of her father, a homeless man who occasionally provided help to Parker on his cases. The Town of Prosperous sets the stage. A small town in Maine that has deep, dark secrets. The setting of the book initially reminded me of books by Stephen King - small town(s) in Maine with creepy people doing creepy things.But this is where my comparison ends.
I really enjoyed this novel by Connolly. I thought the story enfolded at a nice pace although I would have liked more on the history of Prosperous. I hesitate to say more about this as I don't want to give away the plot. I think this book would appeal to many types of readers - those who like mysteries, those who like crime novels, etc. This book is perfect for this time of year. This book did peak my interest in this book series and I would be willing to go back and read some earlier books in the series.
November 3, 2016
Another impressive instalment of the Charlie Parker series - but this one is one for the true fans. Unless the reader is steeped in the background to the 'Believers' and the 'Backers' and the other clandestine characters that surface from previous books, he or she is likely to be a little lost.
July 25, 2016
I have to admit I am pretty obsessive about the need to read a mystery/thriller series in the proper order so as not to be completely at sea about any continuing characters/plotlines. But twice in the last two weeks I've thrown caution to the wind by reading the twelfth and most-recently published book in two long-standing series. The first was JANE AND THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS; that one worked out well because of my familiarity with Austen's life and work.
In The Wolf in Winter, the latest Charlie Parker thriller, I found it a bit more of a struggle to pick up the threads of the continuing plot and understand the backstory so I wish I had started with book one. But thankfully the main plot of the mystery could stand alone and was very spooky and interesting. Connolly delves into the life and struggles of the homeless as Parker steps in to investigate the disappearance of a struggling young woman and the apparent suicide of her father in the basement of an abandoned building. The trail leads him to Prosperous, Maine--a town that was settled by the followers of an ancient pagan religion that has seemed unusually blessed by good fortune over the years. Parker finds the local chief of police uncooperative which fans the flame of his suspicion that something is not quite right in the town. He tours the only church in town which was brought from England by the first settlers and reassembled brick by brick and is filled with seasonal images of the Green Man with not a crucifix in sight.
What sets this detective series apart from others seems to be the supernatural element in the story--in this case, an ancient god that is HUNGRY. Another surprising quality in Connelly's writing is the great humor he displays between friends with lots of laugh-out-loud moments that I enjoyed. I am intrigued enough by this series to read more. And yes, I will definitely seek out book one.
In The Wolf in Winter, the latest Charlie Parker thriller, I found it a bit more of a struggle to pick up the threads of the continuing plot and understand the backstory so I wish I had started with book one. But thankfully the main plot of the mystery could stand alone and was very spooky and interesting. Connolly delves into the life and struggles of the homeless as Parker steps in to investigate the disappearance of a struggling young woman and the apparent suicide of her father in the basement of an abandoned building. The trail leads him to Prosperous, Maine--a town that was settled by the followers of an ancient pagan religion that has seemed unusually blessed by good fortune over the years. Parker finds the local chief of police uncooperative which fans the flame of his suspicion that something is not quite right in the town. He tours the only church in town which was brought from England by the first settlers and reassembled brick by brick and is filled with seasonal images of the Green Man with not a crucifix in sight.
What sets this detective series apart from others seems to be the supernatural element in the story--in this case, an ancient god that is HUNGRY. Another surprising quality in Connelly's writing is the great humor he displays between friends with lots of laugh-out-loud moments that I enjoyed. I am intrigued enough by this series to read more. And yes, I will definitely seek out book one.
June 19, 2014
John Connolly has produced another well written fascinating book in his Charlie Parker series. In a book of this size and a series of this length it's a pleasure to see that Mr. Connolly can accomplish as much as he does.
Empathy would be the word I would use to describe the theme of this installment in the Parker saga. Empathy for the homeless of Maine. Empathy for the wild creatures that used to rule the back woods of the state. Empathy for those who have no control of their own lives.
Mr. Connolly parallels the survival of a Wolf who's pack has been slaughtered by hunters to that of Charlie Parker who is pretty much alone the first two thirds of this book.
A sub story involves a homeless man searching for his wayward daughter. He has traced her whereabouts to a small Maine town named Prosperous. Prosperous needs to keep it's secrets, thus the elders of the town have the homeless man murdered and make the murder appear as a suicide. Little do they know the homeless man has approached Parker to help him locate his missing and estranged daughter.
As the lone wolf, the surviving member of his pack is hunted, so is Charlie Parker.
When Charlie is incapacitated and lies in a coma in hospital his friends Louis and Angle take over the narrative. Revenge must be dolled out. And who better to reek revenge that Louis and Angle.
We find just how much evil is contained in Prosperous and how the town has survived so well for all these years.
A great entry into this fantastic series. Full of incite, humor and compelling story telling and you'll be chomping at the bit's for the next book to appear.
Empathy would be the word I would use to describe the theme of this installment in the Parker saga. Empathy for the homeless of Maine. Empathy for the wild creatures that used to rule the back woods of the state. Empathy for those who have no control of their own lives.
Mr. Connolly parallels the survival of a Wolf who's pack has been slaughtered by hunters to that of Charlie Parker who is pretty much alone the first two thirds of this book.
A sub story involves a homeless man searching for his wayward daughter. He has traced her whereabouts to a small Maine town named Prosperous. Prosperous needs to keep it's secrets, thus the elders of the town have the homeless man murdered and make the murder appear as a suicide. Little do they know the homeless man has approached Parker to help him locate his missing and estranged daughter.
As the lone wolf, the surviving member of his pack is hunted, so is Charlie Parker.
When Charlie is incapacitated and lies in a coma in hospital his friends Louis and Angle take over the narrative. Revenge must be dolled out. And who better to reek revenge that Louis and Angle.
We find just how much evil is contained in Prosperous and how the town has survived so well for all these years.
A great entry into this fantastic series. Full of incite, humor and compelling story telling and you'll be chomping at the bit's for the next book to appear.
June 19, 2017
Книгите на Джон Конъли отдавна са надскочили жанровата рамка на трилъра. Анонсират ги по този начин, но в тях има всичко - и брутален хорър, и фентъзи мотиви, а ирландецът продължава да затвърждава мнението ми за качеството на авторите от Острова. Още по средата установих, че във "Вълкът през зимата" сякаш са си дали среща Лий Чайлд и Стивън Кинг. Не стилово, разбира се, защото всяко от изброените имена е прекалено ярка индивидуалност, за да бъде имитиран лесно, а по-скоро сюжетно. Емблематичният герой на Чайлд, майор Джак Ричър, странстващ из Америка под радара на системата, често се забърква с неприятности в малки градчета, тайнствени затворени общности, които гледат с недоверие на пришълците. Именно това се случва и с детектив Чарли Паркър, когато смъртта на негов познат го довежда пред портите на "градчето с късмет" Проспъръс, но враговете му не са престъпници в обикновения смисъл на думата, а... тук вече навлизаме в територията на хоръра, където преди години ме доведе именно чичо Кинг. Но говорехме за Конъли - ами-и пет звезди. И, последно, с което пък изненадах сам себе си, веднага почвам следващата... От времето на "Милениум" на Стиг Ларшон (там гонех срокове, че ми бяха заети) не бях чел три книги на един автор подред :)
November 27, 2016
'The Wolf in Winter', book 12 in the Charlie Parker private detective series, continues to mystify us with vague opaque references to the evil, ancient and angry spirits haunting Parker, gentle reader. However, the author, John Connolly, is moving almost all of the previously introduced human characters (those which have survived) forward into new relationships to each other in this story, while at the same time keeping the center of the action circling around the trio of justice fighters we love - Charlie, Louis, and Angel.
A homeless man, Jude, is looking for his daughter, Annie Broyer, who is also homeless plus an addict. He had only become clean himself recently and he wanted to patch things up with her. In talking to her friends he learned she had been offered a job in a small northern Maine town called Prosperous. He catches a ride up to the town, but he cannot find her. Chief Lucas Morland runs him out of the town when he asks too many questions. Jude can tell something is really wrong in Prosperous!
Returning to Boston, he starts to collect money people owed him. He happens to know of a good detective - Charlie Parker. He wants to hire Parker to find his daughter. Jude knows $120 might only buy him a couple of hours of the detective's time, but he has hopes of appealing to Parker's sympathy. He has heard stories about Parker...
Morland is questioning Erin and Harry Dixon about Annie's escape from their basement where Annie had been locked up in a cell. The town really needed that girl! Everyone knows it is time for the ritual in the graveyard. If they don't sacrifice a woman soon, the town's luck will change. For centuries Prosperous has been prospering because of the regular sacrifices, but now, they are late because of the carelessness of the Dixons! Or was it carelessness? Erin and Harry can't meet Morland's eyes. Did they let her go? Morland knows the town council is going to be very unhappy with them, murderously unhappy....
This is a very interesting mystery!
A homeless man, Jude, is looking for his daughter, Annie Broyer, who is also homeless plus an addict. He had only become clean himself recently and he wanted to patch things up with her. In talking to her friends he learned she had been offered a job in a small northern Maine town called Prosperous. He catches a ride up to the town, but he cannot find her. Chief Lucas Morland runs him out of the town when he asks too many questions. Jude can tell something is really wrong in Prosperous!
Returning to Boston, he starts to collect money people owed him. He happens to know of a good detective - Charlie Parker. He wants to hire Parker to find his daughter. Jude knows $120 might only buy him a couple of hours of the detective's time, but he has hopes of appealing to Parker's sympathy. He has heard stories about Parker...
Morland is questioning Erin and Harry Dixon about Annie's escape from their basement where Annie had been locked up in a cell. The town really needed that girl! Everyone knows it is time for the ritual in the graveyard. If they don't sacrifice a woman soon, the town's luck will change. For centuries Prosperous has been prospering because of the regular sacrifices, but now, they are late because of the carelessness of the Dixons! Or was it carelessness? Erin and Harry can't meet Morland's eyes. Did they let her go? Morland knows the town council is going to be very unhappy with them, murderously unhappy....
This is a very interesting mystery!
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